September 05, 2009

Child's Skull Fractured by Foul Ball: A four-year-old boy was struck by a foul ball and suffered a fractured skull Wednesday at a Mahoning Valley [Ohio] Scrappers minor league game. Luke Holko, 4, was sitting with his family in the first row of the first base line, according to media reports, and is hospitalized in critical condition as doctors wait for his brain swelling to subside.

I had a close call at a Jacksonville Suns game when I took my sons a few years ago. A ball struck a concrete wall a foot below us, and by the time we reacted it was too late to have done anything about it.

I love going to games, but with young kids I'd never sit too close -- especially at smaller minor league parks where you can be right on top of the game.

I totally agree. There should be an age restriction for being in the first few rows of the stands; kids old enough to catch/dodge a ball/bat should be free to sit there, but a four year old? Asking for trouble.

Just went to a Reno Aces game with my 10 yr old. Watched some cookin line drives fly at the people down the baseline (we were behind the screen) and thought "you'd better be paying attention to the game at all times if your sitting down there". A high fly is one thing but a line drive to the inattentive melon is something else.

Yeah, we were just at a Kane County Cougars game and thought the same. I told my wife to always have an eye on the batter, even if you were talking to someone on the other side. We were about four rows up, just past third base. A bit too close for my comfort with my three-year old sitting next to me.

While every stadium I've been to has posted numerous warnings about foul balls, etc., I still see people at every game that are not paying attention when a batter is up. Cell phones, kids, the converation with the person to the other side, the beer vendor (okay, that might be a worthwhile distraction), all add up to a dangerous situation.